One of the objects of the exercise in seeking to fill up a page and a half at
the beginning of each monthly parish magazine is to bring a biblical Christian
perspective on to many things that occur. Why do I believe this to be necessary?
It is very simply that the orthodox Christian view is largely being excluded
from any opportunity to make its voice heard in the discussions and debates that
take place in our country. Obviously, one cannot compete with the media but that
is no reason for silence.

I was reflecting on this and the particular changes that have occurred in the
last forty years when the death and subsequent obituary of Roy Jenkins took
place. Many of the changes that we have seen dated from his time in office. Many
were the praises given to him and of course, there is no doubt that his was a
brilliant mind. However, in the total sum of happiness of the human race
generally and the people of the United Kingdom particularly, much of the
legislation which undid the biblical base of the laws of the land can be
attributed to his term in office.

Jenkins was not the first, nor indeed the last to be involved in this
downgrading of the Christian faith and ethic in our country. Nor was his the
only political party to do so. All the parties to some degree or another have
turned their backs on the Christian basis of our land. The net result is that we
have no real standard by which we may judge that which is right or wrong.

The European Convention of Human Rights is an attempt to codify a new
standard, separate from God’s standards and is effectively a resurrection of the
French revolution dogma of liberty, equality and fraternity. Those of us who
have remembered our history and have been privileged to read Dickens’ ‘Tale of
Two Cities’ may well be aware that such dogma led to Madame Guillotine. Those
who for one reason or another were regarded at the time as not being politically
correct were executed. It is estimated that before the Terror had finished forty
thousand people had lost their lives. These were by no means all aristocrats.
Many of them were peasants. The parallel between the French Revolution and the
Russian is striking.

John Wycliffe, the Oxford scholar of the fourteenth century, had written in
his Bible translation into English that, ‘This Bible is for the government of
the people, by the people and for the people.’ It was the first rustlings of
democracy that took many more centuries to develop into that freedom that we
enjoy now. This was an attempt to place God’s Moral Law as the centre by which
the people would be governed and who in turn would have the opportunity to read,
mark, learn and know what things they should do.

Both the Civil Wars in England followed by the Glorious Revolution of 1688
were based largely on Biblical principles. Hence, in both cases, for all their
faults, wholesale executions and terror did not follow these events. Voltaire,
who as a philosopher had a great impact on France was influenced by the
situation in England. He saw that the power of Kings (government) was encouraged
to do good and restrained in committing evil. What Voltaire forgot was that the
underlying reason for the difference was that in England there was a biblical
base. This was not so in France. Hence the Terror.

Liberty that loses its boundaries always leads to anarchy and anarchy
eventually leads to dictatorship. Dictatorship seeks to retain power by the use
of the sword. The post-first world war German Weimar Republic was a case in
point followed by the Nazi regime. The growth of crime, the loss of a basic
morality, the breakdown of families and family values much encouraged by the
media, the loss of proportion by many of the judiciary are all cases pointing to
a breakdown in this land through a genuine liberalism being overtaken by
sentimentalism. Once the cycle begins, it is very difficult to break.

The reason is that our people have changed their laws and a change of law
always reflects a change of leadership. In abandoning Christian basic standards
the land has given notice to God that it has turned its back on Him and is
seeking fresh gods. Either directly, or indirectly, our legislation has declared
that we will not have Jesus Christ to reign over us. The situation is not beyond
remedy but Church and State both need to redress the situation. Such redress
does not threaten the minorities, rather it guarantees their freedom. It also
guarantees the freedom of the individual to walk the streets of our cities
without fear.

With all good wishes, Sincerely David Streater.

I am always ready to discuss any matter which I have written about.

The Prayer Chain

The Prayer Chain is there if you need prayer for yourself, for others or for
members of your family. Please don’t ask for prayer outside your own family
without people’s permission. To have a number of people pray just telephone
David (720234) or Dennis (822992).

Church Opening

Many of you will know that because of the problems of vandalism and theft
from Churches generally, the Parish Church is kept locked. Unless there is a
specific reason for opening it earlier, it will be opened for Sunday and
occasional services half an hour before the Service is due to start.

Confirmation

If there is anyone considering confirmation please would they contact David.

News from St. Albans Diocese

Licensing Bill - latest. The Church of England has warmly welcomed the
Government's tabled amendment to the Licensing Bill which ensures that places of
worship will be exempt from the requirements for public entertainment licensing.
At the same time the Government proposes to exempt Church and Village Halls from
a need to pay licensing fees. More information on the diocesan website http://www.stalbans.anglican.org

Welcoming the Bishop. The new Bishop of Bedford, the Rt Revd Richard
Inwood, and his wife, Liz, will be welcomed at a special service at St Paul's
Church, Bedford on Saturday March 8th at 5 pm. The service, open to everyone,
follows his Consecration at Southwark Cathedral the previous day by the new
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams.

Easter Monday Pilgrimage. An extended exchange of the sign of Christ's
peace - probably the biggest in the country that day - will form a central part
of the Easter Monday Pilgrimage at St Albans Abbey on Monday April 21st. This
year's theme is "My peace I give to you." Once at the Abbey, the day will
consist of fun activities from 1.30 pm on the Abbey Orchard. Pilgrims are asked
to bring their lunch. Processions into the Abbey will begin at 2.30 pm.

On your bike. The Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust have announced
plans for this year's sponsored bike ride - to take place on Saturday September
13th. Last year's event raised more than £80,000, a record for the event.
Peter Crumpler
Communications Officer Diocese of St. Albans.

,
on Sat 1st Feb. Despite the terrible weather quite a number of people managed to
get to this special service and enjoyed an excellent talk by Peter Horrobin of
Ellel Ministries. The service and the music by Face 2 Face set just the right
atmosphere for personal ministry afterwards and many people came forward.

An evening of Fellowship, Comfort and Encouragement at Wellspings near
Leighton Buzzard, Friday April 11th.

Ann Bowes cooks wonderful suppers and offers her home for Christian meetings
(see recent See Round). She will also give us a short talk. Group size limited
but all welcome, not just those involved in the Healing Ministry.

Please contact Liz Dodwell if you are interested in coming (price £10 each).

Aid for Romania from North Bedfordshire.

Posh Supper.

Thank you to everyone who supported this event. We raised at least £800 from
the supper itself, plus £100 from selling patchwork and £200 promised in
sponsorship for the Pit Run! - amazing and a great way to celebrate our 10th and
possibly our last such supper. We have made over £5,000 over the previous nine
years which has made it possible to sponsor at least two families from central
funds. At the moment we have three and a half families supported centrally so we
are still hoping for some more sponsors.

At the Dinner the special needs of several sponsored families were publicised.
Two of the three new families have nine and ten children and these large
families are finding it very hard to cope in a system where the charges for
basic services are based on the number of people in a flat as well as the size.
We continue to have a drink problem with the three Dads who are raising their
families on their own without a Mum. Somehow their children seem to survive in
this very difficult environment. It is not perhaps surprising that one of these
Dads and one of their sons are now in prison. We try to give the best support
appropriate to these families.

We are currently investigating the medical histories of two youngsters whom
we may be able to help with surgery. Mihaela is 16 years old, has cerebral palsy
and has been supported by us for many years. We are in touch with an orthopaedic
surgeon to see if surgery and/or therapy is appropriate so that she can manage
to continue to live at home, becoming as independent as possible. Alex, aged
six, is blind and may be helped by a corneal graft.

Pit Run Saturday April 26th

This year’s Pit Run will take place as usual from Harrold Green, round the
Lakes and back to the Green. There will be refreshments, sideshows and stalls
and it is usually a good fun "villagey" event. Several groups supported by
members of our village are taking part including Aid for Romania and Corner Club
and this year we hope there will be volunteers to run or walk to raise money for
our Church Appeal.

Our Giving in March is to tear fund

Please give generously to this charity dedicated to helping struggling people
in the third-world countries.

Women’s World Day of Prayer

Holy Spirit, Fill us.

Interdenominational Service

Harrold Chapel, 10 am, Friday March 7th

Speaker: Doreen Vick

Men also welcome. Refreshments afterwards

This is a very special annual service, which members of our Church like to
support. It is friendly and informal, whilst following the format used round the
world. This year the Christian women of the Lebanon have prepared the service.
This seems particularly appropriate as we are all praying for difficult
situations in the Middle East. If you would like to help contribute to the
service in some way, please contact Liz Dodwell (720640).

Looking to Jesus

"I will heal their waywardness, and love them freely , for My
anger has turned away from them" Hos 14:4

Restoration

Have you ever gone astray? Have you ended up being wounded, because you took
the wrong turn on the road? In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said, "A
certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves" (Lk
10.30). Jerusalem was the place of God's blessing and Jericho was the place of
judgment.

When you leave one for the other, you're "going down" and you can count on
one thing: that it always ends the same way. "They stripped him, they wounded
him and they left him to die". No matter what your friends or your instincts
tell you, the last chapter is always the same. But there's hope! God says, "I
will heal your waywardness and love you freely".

The book of Hosea is an amazing rescue operation! God told the prophet to
marry a woman who would sell herself into prostitution, desert her children and
break his heart. Then he was commanded to go and buy her back off the auction
block and "Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites." (Hos 3:1)

Some of us don't find God until we hit the bottom and hit it hard. Others hit
"false bottoms" only to discover that the elevator can go even lower. When the
prodigal finally "came to himself", he was "wasted". But the story doesn't end
there. Those wounded feet were bathed in the tears of a father's love and fitted
with shoes that only a child of the king can wear. His scars of sin were covered
with a robe of righteousness and those hands that had been used for evil were
washed and given a ring of son-ship. Listen: "Kill the fatted calf" (Luke
15:23). How long does it take to fatten a calf? Think about it! The father had
been preparing for a long time for this moment and the God who has never
stopped loving you is waiting for you to come home today. He'll welcome
you with open arms - all you have to do is come!

Printed with kind permission of United Christian Broadcaster and taken from
"Word for today".

Valerie Payton Wedding News

We
have received the very happy news that Valerie Payton, known to many in Odell
Village and Church, is to marry Rev Richard French (retired) from Lindfield,
Haywards Heath, W. Sussex. They are to be married on 29th March at St
Mary's, Luton. All are invited to the service at 12.00 noon and to a drink and
cake reception afterwards in the Church Hall.

Amongst Ourselves

Congratulations to Valerie Payton on her forthcoming marriage. Many in our
church will remember Valerie on her visits here with John who was such a support
to our church at various functions. We are so pleased at this good and blessed
news and pray for their years of happiness together.

Father we look around as Spring is here with the wonder of the
flowers,primroses and snowdrops, peeping through, and the birds all happily
flying around reminding us again and again of what a Mighty God you are. The
colours of the beautiful skies remind us of what an artist you are. Everything
so perfect. Such unusual colours. We stand in awe of you Dear Lord. All things
bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and
wonderful, You Lord God made them all. Amen.

Father we ask you to bless all those families that mourn, surrounding them
with your loving care.

Keep the homeless, and those who need lots of loving care in your protection
and remind us when we see people begging to give them food and not money to buy
drugs or drink with. We are so thankful to have a roof over our heads and warmth
and food enough.

Father as war is still the topic we pray that you would give all world
leaders your wisdom. Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are in your hands; may they be
under your watchful eye. Give these leaders a heart like your heart – full of
love and not of hatred. We do pray for peace, Lord, not just abroad but in our
own land and in our homes also.

Drugs are rife here and Father we pray that you would bless and empower the
work of the Police and all who work to rid our country of this evil so that so
many lives can be saved. Have mercy on them all for we know that whoever they
are, whatever their addiction, you love them all.

Give us all a heart like your heart please, and help us never to judge others
- for they may have a splinter in their eye and we could have a log. Accept
these prayers through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Anne Turner

Obituary – John Hampton

We are sorry to
learn of the death of John Hampton who died in Bedford General Hospital (South
Wing) aged 77 years. We send our love and prayers to Peggy and the family. John
and his family lived in Odell for many years where he worked for Lord Luke and
the "Castle Estate", living next door to the Bell before moving to the bungalows
opposite. His cheerfulness during his time here will be well remembered, as will
the poems that he submitted to the Magazine and which we all so very much
enjoyed. Upon their move to Peach's Close, Harrold, he was occasionally to be
seen as he journeyed through the Country Park in his motorised wheel- chair
which, since he had lost both his legs, enabled him to travel about a little.
The funeral service took place at St Peters, Harrold, on 19th
February.

Odell Lunch Club for Senior Citizens

A Village re-union – the annual ‘Fish and Chip Lunch’ – will take place on
Wednesday 5th March at 12.30 for

1.00 pm at Odell Village Hall. If any pensioner does not receive a personal
invitation and wishes to come please phone Roma on 720431. Anyone who would like
to come and meet old friends please join us for coffee at 2.00pm.

All Saints’ Odell Flower Rota

The key for the church is at The Rectory and if you have any problems please
contact Jane Eshelby on 01933 410959. The only flowers that need attention are
the two vases up by the altar and the large vase behind the lectern.

March

23rd Eileen Shakespeare

30thMothering Sunday Jill Cheadle

April

6th Liz Lewis

Odell Village Fete

Saturday June 14th 2003

Family Dog Show Pony Rides Cash Raffle

Children’s Collage Competition Tombola

Fire Brigade Children’s Sports Local Band

Lucky Programme Draw Children’s Stalls

Ice Creams Refreshments

Many Side Shows

Gifts White Elephant Bottle Stall

Books Cakes Plants Produce

Please everyone, make a note of the date of the fete now and put it in your
diaries! We will once again hold the Dog Show that was such a success last year.
Don’t forget to invite all your family and friends for the day.

The site is once again the field at the end of Horsefair

Lane.

Diary

March

5th 12.30 Fish and Chip Lunch for Senior Citizens,
Village Hall.

7th 10.00am Women’s World Day of Prayer, Harrold
Chapel.

8th 5pm Service to welcome new Bishop of Bedford,
St. Paul’s Church Bedford.

Please send all entries for the April 2003 magazine to
Tricia Hudson (patriciahudson@kbnet.co.uk), Anne Turner or Catherine Corkery by
March 12th at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial team
exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted.
Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and
are not the responsibility of the editorial team.